Illuminated push button switch



De@ 6, 1965 E. J.Go1.BEcK ETAL 3,290,473

ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 9, 1964 o mmmnmmlmmu@ Dec- 6 1966" B, J.Go1 BEcK ETAL 3,290,473

ILLUMINATED PUSH BUTTON SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1964 United States Patent Office 3,2%,473 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 3,290,473 ILLUMINATED PUSH BUITGN SWITCH Bernard .lohn Golbeck, Crystal Lake, William F. Boulter,

Mount Prospect, Harry S. Tice, Jr., Crystal Lake, and

Raymond Frank Lewandowslr, Mount Prospect, lll.,

assignors to Oak Electro/ Naties Corp., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,204 11 Claims. (Cl. 2ML-167) This invention relates to an electric switch, and more particularly to an improvedl illuminated electric switch.

In the past, it has been known to mount a lamp in the push button of a push button switch, which is illuminated when the button is pushed from an out to an in or unactuated to actuated position. Since a lamp is required for each button in this arrangement, the cost is quite high when a bank of switches is employed having a plurality of push buttons. Also, when the lamps are mounted in the buttons themselves, they are subjected to severe shock during operation of the buttons, resulting in a high rate of filament breakage. Accordingly, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved illuminated push button switch which is simple in construction, eicient in operation, and relatively inexpensive.

An object of the invention is to provide an illuminated push button switch wherein the light source is mounted externally of the push button.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated push button switch wherein a single light source is used to illuminate a plurality of push buttons. More specifically the push buttons land light source are so related that only the actuated push buttons may be illuminated.

A further object of the invention is to mount the light source of an illuminated push button switch on a resilient support to reduce filament breakage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated push button switch wherein the light source may be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

And another object of the invention is to provide a compact switching device wherein a plurality of switches may be provided in a limited space.

These and other objects of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from an examination of the following specification taken in connection with the .annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a plan View of a push button switching device embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure illustratcd in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an energizing circuit for the light source;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the mounting means for the light source of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan View of the mounting means for the light source shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the structure shown in FlG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the illumination channel used in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one .specific embodiment and a modication thereof, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several Views, a pair of generally identical, vertically spaced push butt-on switches l0 :are shown mounted to an escutcheon plate 11 by suitable fastening means, not shown. Push button switches l@ are of the same general type as that illustrated in the patent to J. H. Williams, 2,973,664, having the same assignee as the present application. Each switch i0 includes front plate 12 and rear plate 13 each having aligned slots which slidably receive switch operating members 14, with the rearward end 14a of the switch operating members being slidably received in suitable straps 15 carried by a terminal board 16. Terminal board 16 is secured to rear plate 13 as by brackets 17, and contains a plurality of rows of contacts 18 to which the circuits being switched are connected, it being understood that suitable contacts, not shown, are carried on switch operator portion 14a to effect the desired switching action.

As is set forth in detail in the above `mentioned patent, spring means, not shown, are provided to bias the switch operating members 14 to an out 4position as shown in FIG. 1, and in the right hand switch operator in FIG. 2, with a latching member 20 being provide-d to lock the switch operating member in an in position, such as shown at 1d in the left hand switch operating member in FIG. 2. The end portions 21 and 2.2 of latch bar 20 are slidably Imounted between side frame members 23 and 24 that are secured between plates 12 and 13, with a spring 25 being provided to urge the latch bar 20 into the position shown in FIG. l. It will be understood that when a switch operating member is pushed into the in position as shown at 14' in lFIG. 2, an upstanding abutment 26 on the switch operating member 14 engages the inc-lined surface on a corresponding abutment 27 on the latch bar 20 to shift the latch bar to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1. As abutment 26 is pushed inwardly past abutment 27, it will snap into the recess 2S formed in the latch bar 20 behind abutment 27, and the switch operating member 14 will then be latched in the in position. An unlocking member 3ft, having an upstanding abutment 3l, is engageable with the inclined surface of abutment 29 on latch bar 20 to shift the latch bar to the left and release the switch operating member 14 that is in the in position. Thus it will be understood that any number of buttons may be depressed at once, and will latch if depressed simultaneously. Depressing any button, or the release button, releases all other depressed or latched buttons in the same bank or row.

The forward end of each switch operating member 14 is provided with a push button 34 that is slidable in a suitable opening 35 provided in escutcheon plate 11. Each push button 34 includes a forward translucent portion 36, and a rearward opaque portion 37, which is provided with an enlarged peripheral flange 38 that is substantially larger than the openings 35 in escutcheon 1l. Button portions 36 which are formed of an acrylic resin have functioned very satisfactorily for the purposes of this invention, in that acrylic resins have exceptional light dispersion characteristics which cause them to emit a generally foggy white light when a light source is energized. However, other translucent and/or transparent materials are satisfactory for use in push button section 36, and the present invention is not limited to the use of an acrylic resin. Button portion 37 is preferably formed of a durable opaque plastic material, such as nylon, that may be solvent welded to the button portion 36 to form an integral button unit. Under certain circumstances, it

may be desir-able that one or more push buttons be illuminated whenever the light source is energized. For this purpose the portions 37 of these buttons may be formed of a translucent or clear plastic, so that the respective button portions 36 will tbe illuminated regardless of whether the buttons are depressed, and dependent only upon the illumination of the light source.

The means for mounting the light source that is utilized to illuminate the push button portion 36 when the push button is in the in position will be best understood from a consideration of FIG. 54FIG. 8. A pair of slender elongate studs 40 are fixedly secured to escutcheon plate 11 at spaced apart positions corresponding to the width of the push button switches 10. Studs 40 are provided with an undercut portion 41 that defines a neck which cooperates with a bracket 42 to removably secure an illumination channel 43 to the studs 40.

As is best seen in FIG. 7, illumination channel 43 is generally U-shaped in cross section, and includes a central lbight portion 44 and parallel legs 45 and 46. Central channel portion 44 is provided with a plurality of openings 47 which are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of the push buttons. Shoulders 48 are formed in openings 47 for a purpose to be hereafter described. Channel 43 is preferably formed of a reflective material, to assist in illuminating the push buttons, as will hereinafter become more fully apparent.

A generally U-shaped clip 50 is adapted to be inserted in each opening 47, and includes a central portion 51 and outwardly diverging sides 52 and 53. A suitable lamp holder is provided with a `base 54 that is secured to central portion 51 of clip 50 (FIG. 2), and includes suitable retention members 55 adapted to hold the lamp L, and contacts 56 for connection into a circuit to energize the lamp L. Legs 52 and 53 of clip 50 are provided with notches 57 at opposed sides thereof, which cooperate with the shoulders 48 on the central portion 44 of illumination bracket 43 to removably seat the clip 50. Legs 52 and 53 are also provided with elongate openings S to accommodate the aforedescribed contacts 56. Clip 50 is formed of a resilient material, and the distance between the end portions 59 and 60 of legs 52 and 53 is normally larger than the width of the opening 47, so that the clip is inserted by pressing end portions 59 and 60 toward one another, inserting the yclip into the opening 47, and then releasing the end portions 59 and 60 to allow the notches 57 to engage the shoulders 48. It will be readily understood that the lamp L may be easily removed by merely compressing the end portions 59 and 6l) and withdrawing the clip 50 from the illumination bracket 43.

Bracket or latch 42 is formed of a resilient material, and includes a thin elongate portion 62, and end portions 463 and 64 disposed at substantially right angles to the portion 62. The end portion 63 of bracket 42 includes an opening 65 that is adapted to be slidably received upon stud 40. Right angularly disposed tabs 66 and 67 are provided on the portion 62 adjacent the lower end thereof, and are adapted to be riveted or otherwise secured to illumination Ibracket 43 as at 68. The end portion 64 of bracket 42 is provided with an elongate opening 69, the end portion of which is adapted to engage the neck 41 on stud 40 to releasably secure the illumination bracket 43 to the studs 40. It will be readily understood that when it is desired to remove the illumination channel as' a whole, bracket 42 is moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 6, to free the bracket portion 64 from the post 40 and the entire illumination channel and bracket assembly may be slid along posts 40.

From examination of FIG. 3, it will be seen that a single lamp L may be utilized to illuminate four push buttons. When the push lbuttons are in the out position, flange 38 is positioned closely adjacent escutcheon 11, and shields opening 35 so that the button portion 36 is not illuminated. When the switch operating member 14 is in the in position, opaque flange 38 is spaced a substantial distance from escutcheon 11, and the translucent button portion 36 passes into the light ooded area behind the escutcheon 11. Illumination channel 43 reflects the back and side light beams from lamp L and directs them toward the area directly behind the escutcheon so that the button portion 36 will glow brightly when it is in the in position. One lamp provides illumination for four push buttons, although only the actuated push buttons glow.

The lamp L may be continuously illuminated, or the illumination of the lamp may be controlled by the pushing of the buttons into the in position. Thus, in FIG. 4, wherein a simplified schematic circuit is shown, a source of alternating current 70 is connected in a circuit with lamp L, with each of the push buttons 34 being connected in parallel, so that the pushing of any of the Ibuttons into the in position will cause the contact 71 carried by the switch operator 14 to close and energize the lamp. It should also be understood that the lamps may be operated continuously at a reduced potential and then switched to full rated potential, or the lamps may be continuously operated on half wave rectification and then switched to full wave rectification, when the push button is moved into the in position.

It should also be understood that the present invention also contemplates the provision of a separate light source for each push button. To this end, as is best seen in FIGS. 9 and l0, an illumination channel 43 is secured to an escutcheon plate 11' in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 5-8. Channel 43 is provided with a plurality of lamp receiving openings 47', each of which is positioned in alignment with a push button 34. Light barriers 75 are fixed at spaced positions in channel 43', as by the engagement of bent over tabs 76 with suitable openings provided in channel sides 45 and 46', between the openings 47 to divide the channel into a plurality of compartments for reception of lamps L. The barriers 75 on opposed sides of each lamp L' function to prevent the light rays emanating from one lamp from illuminating an adjacent lamp. Thus, independent illumination for each button is effectively achieved.

We claim:

1. A push button switching device comprising: an escutcheon plate having rows of spaced and aligned openings; a pair of mounting studs secured to said escutcheon plate between each row of openings; a push lbutton switch aligned with each row of openings and fixed to said escutcheon plate, each of said switches having a plurality of switch operators; a button carried by each of said operators, said buttons each having a translucent outer end extending outwardly of an escutcheon plate opening, and a light shield spaced inwardly of the outer end; a retlective member releasably secured to each pair of studs; at least one light source carried by each refiective member, each light source being adapted to illuminate a plurality of translucent button ends on adjacent push button switches; and means mounting said operators for movement between an out position where said shield is positioned adjacent said opening to prevent said button translucent portions from being illuminated, and an in position where said push button translucent portions are exposed to a light source to illuminate the same.

2. A switching device as defined in claim 1 wherein said translucent button portions are formed of an acrylic resin.

3. A switching device as defined in claim 1 wherein resilient means are provided for supporting said light source.

4. A push button switching device comprising: an escutcheon plate having rows of spaced and aligned openings; spaced posts ixed to said escutcheon plate between said rows; a push button switch aligned with each row and fixed to said escutcheon plate, each of said switches having a plurality of switch operators; a button carried by each of said operators, said buttons each having a translucent outer end extending outwardly of an escutcheon plate opening, and a light shield spaced inwardly of the outer end; a light source adapted to illuminate the translucent button ends; a reflective channel supporting said light source; resilient means securing said channel to said posts; and means mounting said operators for movement between an out position where said shield is positioned adjacent said opening to prevent said button translucent portion from being illuminated, and an in position where said push button translucent portion is exposed to said light source to illuminate the same.

5. A frame for removably supporting a plurality of light sources comprising: a support plate; a pair of spaced posts xed to said plate; an illumination channel having a plurality of openings; mounting means for resiliently and releasably holding a light source in` each of said openings, each mounting means having manually engageable release portions extend-ing outwardly of its respective opening; and latch means resiliently and releasably securing said channel to said posts.

6. A frame as defined in claim 5 wherein said mounting means is a clip carrying the light source.

7. A frame as defined in claim 6 wherein said clip includes spaced legs which resiliently engage the sides of the opening to hold the light source in the channel.

8. A frame as defined in claim 5 wherein said channel is formed of a reective material.

9. A frame `as dened in claim 7 in which abutments are provided lat the sides of each opening, and wherein each clip leg includes a stop engageable with an abutment.

10. A frame as defined in claim 9 wherein said release portions are provided on said clip legs outwardly of said stops.

11. A frame as defined in claim 5 in which said posts extend outwardly of said channel and include redu-ced portions adjacent the ends thereof; and wherein said latch means includes a pair of brackets each secured adjacent one end of said channel, and each having an apertured end portion releasably engaging the reduced portion of one of said posts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,409,114 1/1920 Lovelberg 40-130 2,440,063 4/1948 Andrews 200-167 2,537,971 1/1951 Dames 240-8.16 2,562,498 7/ 1951 Lebotfe 24U-8.16 2,585,503 2/1952 Schulze 200-167 2,748,206 5/ 1956 Andrews 200-167 X 2,802,082 8/195'7 Kalwo 200-167 X 2,853,565 9/1958 Arthur et al 200-167 X 3,117,207 1/1964 Baldasare 200-167 3,163,739 12/1964 Hutt 200-1167 3,174,023 3/1965 Doggart 200-167 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examinez'.

KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PUSH BUTTON SWITCHING DEVICE COMPRISING: AN ESCUTCHEON PLATE HAVING ROWS OF SPACED AND ALIGNED OPENINGS; A PAIR OF MOUNTING STUDS SECURED TO SAID ESCUTCHEON PLATE BETWEEN EACH ROW OF OPENINGS; A PUSH BUTTON SWITCH ALIGNED WITH EACH ROW OF OPENINGS AND FIXED TO SAID ESCUTCHEON PLATE, EACH OF SAID SWITCHES HAVING A PLURALITY OF SWITCH OPERATORS; A BUTTON CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID OPERATORS, SAID BUTTONS EACH HAVING A TRANSLUCENT OUTER END EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF AN ESCUTCHEON PLATE OPENING, AND A LIGHT SHIELD SPACED INWARDLY OF THE OUTER END; A REFLECTIVE MEMBER RELEASABLY SECURED TO EACH PAIR OF STUDS; AT LEAST ONE LIGHT SOURCE CARRIED BY EACH REFLECTIVE MEMBER, EACH LIGHT SOURCE BEING ADAPTED TO ILLUMINATE A PLURALITY OF TRANSLUCENT BUTTON ENDS ON ADJACENT PUSH BUTTON SWITCHES; AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID OPERATORS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AND "OUT" POSITION WHERE SAID SHIELD IS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID OPENING TO PREVENT SAID BUTTON TRANSLUCENT PORTIONS FROM BEING ILLUMINATED, AND AN "IN" POSITION WHERE SAID PUSH BUTTON TRANSLUCENT PORTIONS ARE EXPOSED TO A LIGHT SOURCE TO ILLUMINATE THE SAME. 